"The slogans are simple things ... these AA tranquilizers do not solve our problems, but they can calm us down, remind us of a better way to proceed, and perhaps even put us in a mood to make better decisions."

"Using the Slogans," New York, N.Y., November 1958From the Book: Into Actionwww.aagrapevine.org

Who knew an old cliche like "One Day At A Time" was really a powerful spiritual principle? I had to surrender something in my belief system every time I worked a Step and usually that meant I had to explore yet another cliche for it's real meaning. The abbreviation words became important spiritual tools, too (KISS, HALT, etcetera).

Early on, my atheism prevented me from doing a lot of things I associated with religion (like prayer). So I never formed a routine of asking for guidance in the morning, and even daily inventories struck of their own volition. In hindsight, I conclude that it was important for me not to develop a set habit in these areas because I would mumble mindlessly and it wouldn't actually mean anything. Every day, something causes conflict and I automatically look inside to see what I'm up to! I have discovered a God of My Understanding, and it has quite a sense of humor. Thank Recovery for the gift of perspective!

Memorizing and using short slogans that interrupted long ingrained routes of thinking was necessary to get me to Pause long before I knew how to work Step 11 !! My brain was a bit addled and I was also very anxious. Prayer was also something I did not do until long after I trained myself to meditate - there again, I had to meditate on one word "Love" until I could calm my brain down.

Who knew I was so short circuited? LOL probably everybody but me!

If I'm not able to say how I'm working my program today, then I'm not working my program.The e-AA Group's 7th Tradition link: www.e-aa.org/group_seventh.php

I have heard it referring in two situations... "The Steps are in order for a reason. First things First" and also in the broader sense while living in the solution, living in Steps 10, 11 & 12... "First things first. Don't get the cart before the horse. Do what you can today."

If I'm not able to say how I'm working my program today, then I'm not working my program.The e-AA Group's 7th Tradition link: www.e-aa.org/group_seventh.php

"Only by accepting my powerlessness over alcohol did I begin to discover the powers that alcohol had obliterated: God, health, truth, love, nature, fellowship, humor, creativity, and even simple daily kindness."

"My perception of any situation is in my control -- I have a choice about which way my mind will react. I try my best to look for positive solutions; I take my problems to my sponsor or I let my friends at a meeting know what is going on inside me."

I am beginning my third step and from what I understand it takes great effort.

I believe many get hung up on this step, and some stall purposely because they are looking at 4 & 5 with a little fear. In the book on page 63 we see not much is made of this step, because really we are not going to turn our life over to any higher power doing this, we will start adopting this way of life after doing the rest of the steps, here we are making a decision. You might make a decision to go on holiday, you haven't gone yet, bookings to make bags to pack etc. steps 4 – 9 are where you make your bookings and pack bags, then you are good to go for the decision to bear fruit.

In the book they have a prayer to say, then it says - “Next we launched out on a course of vigorous action,” launched out, not crawled or thought about, launch like a rocket, and the action they speak of is step 4 followed by 5, after which the book says -

Once we have taken this step, withholding nothing, we aredelighted. We can look the world in the eye. We can bealone at perfect peace and ease. Our fears fall from us.We begin to feel the nearness of our Creator. We mayhave had certain spiritual beliefs, but now we begin tohave a spiritual experience. The feeling that the drinkproblem has disappeared will often come strongly. Wefeel we are on the Broad Highway, walking hand in handwith the Spirit of the Universe.

Walking hand in hand, what a program, go for it Mule, I hung around too long a couple times, scared about 4 & 5. But the stupid mental twist doesn’t have patience, and I nearly lost my life thanks to messing around at #3.

"Good morning, this is your Higher Power speaking. I will not be needing your help today."